Meeting of Arabic Language Department

Doctor Osama Abdulrahman, Head of the Arabic Language Department in the College of Arts and Humanities at the Islamic University of Minnesota, held a meeting with faculty members on Sunday, June 29, 2025.

The meeting covered several key topics, including preparations for the new semester, discussions on the positives and negatives experienced by the department during the summer term, updates from the University Textbook Committee, and discussions on the digital transformation aimed at digitizing all departmental activities.

The meeting began with a welcoming speech by Dr. Ali El-Shboul, Deputy Head of the Department, who wished everyone a happy semester. Dr. Osama Abdulrahman then addressed the attendees, congratulating them on the start of the first semester and the new Hijri year.

The head of the department discussed how to prepare for the semester by organizing scientific materials and presenting them using the university's PowerPoint templates, emphasizing the importance of diversifying teaching methods to prevent student boredom. He also stressed the need for each faculty member to introduce themselves briefly in the first lecture to build rapport with students, highlighting that "psychological readiness in the first lecture is crucial for students to accept their professors."

The meeting also focused on involving students in lectures through questions or by asking them to prepare sections for presentation, ensuring that classes are not one-sided. There was an emphasis on clarifying requirements for assignments and exams, particularly for first-level undergraduate students.

The attendees discussed challenges faced by faculty members, such as delays in student submissions, high enrollment in shared summer courses, and issues arising from the new system.

Dr. Osama raised the topic of the University Textbook Committee, chaired by Prof. Emad Ali and Dr. Sahar Al-Samadi, and discussed the progress made by its members.

Additionally, the department considered a proposal from some faculty members to adopt digital transformation in line with global university advancements and how to implement this across the curriculum and departmental activities. Prof. Emad Ahmed Al-Khatib was appointed to lead this initiative.

The head of the department thanked everyone for their efforts and opened the floor for suggestions on how to develop the department and support its students. Dr. Ali El-Shboul concluded the meeting by thanking all attendees for their commitment and indicated the importance of future meetings to address new developments.

Fifteen faculty members attended the meeting, while some were unable to join due to travel commitments.